Day 116 Boston Massachusetts
Trip Start
May 07, 2008
1
124
205
Trip End
Nov 22, 2008
Middleboro,
Massachusetts,
United States
Monday, September 1, 2008
Today was a little earlier start, we had arranged to catch the shuttle bus to the rail station and head into Boston. So we were up and outside the office ready for the shuttle bus at 7:45am (this being on a holiday and a tourist is hard work!) We meet and talked to another couple (Bob & Kathy from Baton rouge Louisiana) it was great to run into another couple and exchange stories and information, it certainly made the hour train trip go quickly.
Off we all hop at South Station to go look for our prepaid Trolley bus tour.
A few questions to obtain directions and we wait for about 15 mins for a trolley. We all hop on the second trolley (it wasn't as full as the first) and are given a narration as we travel around. It takes about three stops to the actual beginning stop of the tour. We opt to stay on board and do the loop first, to get a rundown and choose what highlights we would lie to experience
The Commons Park
.The loop took around 2 hours and filled us in on a lot of the history of this very old historical town, from the settlement of the area to the beginnings and rumblings that created the revolutionary war, the Boston tea party, the Paul revere midnight ride to warn of the British moving out of port, the battle of the Bunker Hill, Copley Square,(the site of the Boston Massacre) the building and balcony, where the first reading of the declaration of independence was done, Universities and even the Cheers bar was a part of the tour, so much to absorb and so little time, (or is the energy and strength at a low ebb today).
We hopped off the Trolley back at stop one and walked across the road to Quincy's markets, a wide paved area with shopping either side and a long food court type of section in the middle. Our lunch order was for 2 shepherd's pies and 1 scallop pie, (no prizes for who ate which!) they were nice for a change and something different.
Ok we know we have to do the tourist thing and get back on the trolley, we head back and had to line up, no kidding it appeared to us that everyone came to Boston for the labour day weekend, the fact that around 130,000 students were booking in to the uni's as well, most likely hasn't helped, with the parents of the first timers also around watching over their young ones leaving home after 17/18 years
Another modern Icon Visited
. But we guess it simply added to our experience.We chose to hop off at the oldest commissioned ship in the American Navy, the USS Constitution.
This is a three mast wooden sailing ship first built and sailed around 1797 and was nicknamed ironsides (later changed to old ironsides) because the cannon balls in the first battle it engaged in against the British in 1813 bounced off the sides, so good was the design and structure of the boat.
The tour was given by an acting navel person and took us below decks to the cannon area and gave a great run down of the history and the refurbishment and the reasons why it is still an active vessel in the navy. As he pointed out, it will never go into battle because by the time it left port and managed to get to a battle area the war would most likely be over.
It is undergoing a fix up at the moment and every year it still sails out and fires off cannon.
It was a great tour and very informative as the reasons why it was built and the number of battles it has been in and never been beaten. A great history and a pleasure to be given the details and learn more about the attitude of the development and growth of this country.
A fight to get a spot at the bar
We came off that Ship and walked over to a WWII destroyer (USS Cassin Young) that saw active service in the war. In fact those that died on board this vessel were killed because of the Kamikaze pilot strikes against this ship.Back on the trolley and head around until we get to the bar that inspired the setting for the Cheers program, great except, try and get to the bar and try and get a table, gee is it busy? No kidding just to walk through and get a couple of photos was a battle, you would be proud we did for everyone. A few weddings taking place and this is used as a reception place as well, also across the road was "The Commons" area where swan boats and ducks and brides and wedding parties have a billion photos taken. The Commons is an old land use area dating back to early settlement, where everyone could bring the cow or animals to graze free of charge, when you ran out of grazing at home. It is still a common area in the middle of Boston frequented by many to sunbath or photo for weddings and simply relax.
We walked past a university where people were unloading belongings and checking into the dorms, (Yes right on the footpath) a lot of excitement and gaiety amongst the students and they were all booking into the University of arts and acting. We found a coffee shop and had a well deserved break and rest (this tourist stuff is hard work we would like to remind you of the sacrifices we are making to report to everyone J ) We walked down through China town, like most china towns, every shop is a restaurant with the occasional "Chinese junkie shop" interspersed. We by this stage were running out of puff and walked back to the station to ensure we didn't miss our train, rested up there for the 45 mins and caught our train back home.
The RV shuttle bus picked us up as well as our friends, Bob & Kathy from Louisiana have found out one of the hurricane's is heading directly towards their home. We wish you a safe return and pray your home is safe. We exchanged experiences about Boston and were dropped off very tired to our Castle to eat and watch a John Wayne movie, picked up on a disc of 3 different movies for $3, good value!
We have booked in for another night and have decided tomorrow is a compulsory rest day. Firstly we are tired, but mainly, who wants to get on the road tomorrow when all these people and thousands of others are heading home after the last weekend of Summer and the long weekend. We chickened out of being a part of that traffic!
